[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16713-16714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05578]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. DOT MARAD 2023-0055]


Request for Comments on the Renewal of a Previously Approved 
Information Collection: Application and Reporting Elements for 
Participation in the Tanker Security Program

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: 60-Day Federal Register notice.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on 
our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
approval to renew an information collection in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed collection OMB 2133-0554 
(Application and Reporting Elements for Participation in the Tanker 
Security Program) will be used to evaluate the eligibility of the 
applicant for participation in the Tanker Security Program (TSP). A 
minor change request to include a privacy act statement for the 
collection of personally identifiable information will be added to the 
form for this collection. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires 
that we publish this notice in the Federal Register to obtain comments 
from the public and affected agencies.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 19, 2023.

[[Page 16714]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. DOT-MARAD-
2023-0055 through one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Search 
using the above DOT docket number and follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the Department's performance; (b) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden; (c) ways for the Department to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; 
and (d) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the 
quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or 
include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this 
information collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Hatcher, (202) 366-0688, Office 
of Sealift Support, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Application and Reporting Elements for Participation in the 
Tanker Security Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2133-0554.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2021 (FY21 NDAA) authorized the Secretary of Transportation to 
establish the Tanker Security Program (TSP) comprised of a fleet of 
active, commercially viable, militarily useful, privately owned product 
tank vessels of the United States. The fleet will meet national defense 
and other security requirements and maintain a United States presence 
in international commercial shipping. The National Defense 
Authorization for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22 NDAA) made minor adjustments 
related to the participation of long-term charters in the TSP. OMB 
2133-0554 (Application and Reporting Elements for Participation in the 
Tanker Security Program) provides for enrollment of eligible tank 
vessels in the program for FY 2022 through FY 2035.
    This information collection supports the Department of 
Transportation's strategic goal for National Security. A fuel tanker 
study required by the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization 
Act (FY20 NDAA) examined the sufficiency of the U.S.-flagged tanker 
fleet to meet National Defense Strategy (NDS) requirements. The 
report's summary found there to be a substantial risk to the nation's 
defense associated with a heavy reliance on foreign-flagged tankers, 
particularly within a contested environment. The location, timing, and 
specific missions associated with some tanker requirements dictate the 
need for U.S.- flagged assets, for which there currently are 
insufficient numbers available. The report's gap analysis found a clear 
and critical need for a tanker security program to increase U.S.-
flagged tanker capacity, to reduce the risk of reliance on foreign-
flagged tankers for the most important fuel missions, and to ensure the 
Department of Defense (DoD) has sufficient tanker capabilities to meet 
NDS objectives.
    In response to the FY20 NDAA Fuel Tanker Study, Congress directed 
in the FY21 NDAA, with minor adjustments in the FY22 NDAA, that the 
Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Defense, establish a fleet of active, commercially viable, militarily 
useful, privately owned product tanker vessels to meet national defense 
and other security requirements and maintain a United States presence 
in international commercial shipping. The Maritime Administration 
worked with the DoD's United States Transportation Command to identify 
and shape TSP requirements and timelines.
    Respondents: Vessel Owners.
    Affected Public: Business Assistance, Water Transportation 
Operations, Merchant Marine.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 160.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 1.75.
    Annual Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 280.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.

(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35, as amended; and 49 CFR 1.49.)
* * * * *

    By Order of the Acting Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-05578 Filed 3-17-23; 8:45 am]
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